Ironing machine



Oct. 25, A BELMONT IRONING MACHINE File d June 19, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 5/ INVENTOR:

B V W TTORNE Oct. 25, 1932. L. A. BELMONT IRONING MACHINE Filed June 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lNVENT OR TTORN Cd. 25, 1932. L. A. BELMONT IRONING MACHINE Filed June 19. 1930 L. A. BELMONT IRONING MACHINE Oct. 25, 1932.

Filed June 19, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \blNVENTgi-gcd devices to engage the back of a shirt extend- .ing between them to assistin adjusting the to effect the operation of the ironing devices and the shirt back engaging'part.

Another object is to provide a means for Patented oeezs, iesz umrso 'srATss PATENT joFFi-cr. I

LOUIS a. mom, or maoa, rinmmvanra' moms mom:

Application filed June 19, 1850. Serial Io.

tal 2 and a table 4 secured upon the top This invention relates to improvements in ironing machines forironing tubular parts generally and particularly for shirt sleeves.

An object o the invention is to provide a novel and advant-a eous machinewhereby the two sleeves of a s irt may be ironed at one operation. 1

Another object is to provide an 'expansible and contractible ironing device having two ironing elements, one of which is movable.

toward and from the other and movable from the same by gravity to efiect the ironing operation.

Another objectis toprovide two laterally spaced ironing devices for receiving 1 the sleeves of a shirt in combination with a part movable into and from the space between the sleeves upon the ironing devices.

Another object is to provide a mechanism heating the ironing elements by steam.

Another object is .to provide various novel features of construction and combinations of parts as will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanymg drawings,- illustrating the invention, v

Figure 1 is a front elevation of winning -machine, showing one form of embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is aside elevation of the machine. Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the machine, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a detail showing a part of one of the movable ironing elements and the supporting arm therefor.

' Figure 5 is a vertical section through one of the ironing devices and a part ofthe ma chine frame. g 4

. Figure. 6 is a vertical section through the pneumatic cylinder and adjuncts.

Referring 'to-the drawings,.the frame of the machine comprises a hollow base or pedes- 'of the elements 6 and 7 and 1 thereof. Y

'ly spaced ironing devices 5. each of which is adapted to receive a tubular part to be ironed. In the machine herein illustrated, these devices are spaced and shaped to simultaneously receive the two sleeves of a shirt to be ironed. In applying the sleeves to the devices- 5, .the shirt is lowered upon the same so that the upper or free ends of the devices willxfnter the sleeves at'the ends thereof whic are attached to the shlrt body, and so that the back of the shirt will be forwardly of the devices 5, and the upper portion of the shirt back between the sleeves will be extending between the devices. The shirt is lowered until the ironin cuffs on the freei,ends thereo Each ironing device 5 is of the following construction:

The device is .formed by two elongated for-' ward and rearward ironin elements 6-and 7 respectively, each of whic is formed of a hollow casting constructed to receive and contain steam for heating the device, and each of which is provided with exterior ironing surfaces for contact with the'parts to be ironed. The basal portion of the rearward element 7 has a flange 8 extending therefrom andsecured to the table4 for'connecting the devicw straighten z the sleeves and extend t 'rou h them to the element '(rigidly to the machine frame. The 4 forward element 6 is movable forwardly from and rearwardly toward the element! and its bottom wall is spaced slightly above the top of the table 4. The-sides of the fixed'element 7 are provided with longitudinally extending,'parallel plates 9 which are secured thereto and project forwardly therefrom adjacent to the respective parallel sides of the movableelement 5-which extends between the plates 9 in'close relation .thereto. The plates 9 are joined attheir upper ends b a bowed or Parched portion 10 which exten s over the upper ends of the castings forming the bodies a provides a roundad free end for the device.

' The forward .orjmov'able elements 6 of the ironing devices 5 are provided with cavities 11 wh1ch extend forwardly from the rearward walls of the elements and upwardly from the bottom walls thereof for the receparms 12 support the movable elements 6 in a manner to permit them to be moved forwardly from and back toward the fixed elements 7.

The central portion of the shaft 14 is provided with a short arm 15 which extends downwardly therefrom within the pedestal 2. The lower end portion of the arm 15 is pivotally connected to a lever 16 by means of a pin 17 carried by the lever 16 and extending into a slot in the arm 15. The lever 16 is fulcrumed on a shaft 18 which extends through the pedestal 2 and is supported by bearings therein.

The lever 16 extends rearwardly from the fulcrum shaft 18 and it is pivotally connected to the upper end portion of a piston rod 19 which extends downwardly from the lever into a pneumatic cylinder 20 having upper and lower end heads 21 and 22, respectively, the head 22 on the lower end of the cylinder 20 is pivoted to a bracket 23 which supports the cylinder and which is secured to the back of the pedestal 2. The piston rod 20 extends through and it is slidably fitted to the upper cylinder head 21 and the lower endof the rod 20 is provided with a suitable piston 24, Fig. 6, whichis adapted to slide within the cylinder 20. I

An air pipe 25 communicates with the lower end of the cylinder 20, and the pipe 25 extends from the cylinder to and communicates with a three-way airvalve 26 which is secured to an. upwardly extending arm 27 on a bracket 28 which is (secured to the lower portion of the front of the pedestal 2 and extends forwardly therefrom. The valve 26 is provided with an air inletpipe 29 which extends therefrom and is adapted to be connected to a suitable source of compressed air. The stem 30 of the valve 26 extends forwardly from the body of the valve and has a collar 31 secured thereon. The collar 31 is pro vided with gear teeth which arein mesh with similar teeth 0n the top of a sector 32 which extends upwardly from and is secured to the rearward end of a shaft 33-which is fitted to he rocked in hearings on the bracket 28. Secured to the forwardend of the shaft 33 is a foot lever 34 having laterally extending arms 35'and 36 adapted to be depressed in alternate succession by the foot of the operative working the machine.

1 As the lever arms 35 and 36 are depressed in alternate succession, the shaft 33 and therewith the sector 32 are rocked from side toside, causing the sector to operate the collar 31 to turn the valve stem 30 to two positions in alternate succession. When the lever arm 35 is depressed, the valve stem 30 is turned to one of its positions in which it closes communication between the pipe 25 and the atmosphere and opens communication between the pipes 25 and 29 for the supply of compressed air to the cylinder 20, and when the lever arm 36 is depressed, the valve stem 30 is turned to the other of its two positions to open comunication between the pipe 251and the atmosphere and to close communication between the pipes 25 and 29. Thus it will be understood that when the arms 35 and 36 are depressed in alternate succession, compressed 1 air will be supplied to and exhausted from the bottom of the cylinder 20 in alternate succession.

When the foot lever arm 36 is depressed and compressed air is thereby supplied to the cylinder 20, the piston 24 is raised within the cylinder and maintained in the raised position by the compressed air within the cylinder. When the piston .24 is thus raised, its rod 19 raises the lever 16 and causes it to move the short lever arm 15 forwardly and thereby rock the shaft 14 to move the long lever arms 12 rearwardly andthereby move the movable ironing elements 6 back against the fixed ironing elements 7 which act as stops to limit the rearward movement of the elements 6.

When the foot lever arm 35 is depressed and the compressed air within the cylinder 20 is thereby exhausted therefrom, permitting the piston 24 therein to descend, the weight of the two movable ironing elements 6 causes them to move forwardly and downwardly from the fixed elements 7 by gravity, thereby moving the lever arms 12 forwardly and moving the lever arm 15 rearwardly, and moving the lever 16, rod 19 and piston 24 downwardly until the further movement of the several parts is stopped by shirt sleeves upon the ironing devices or by the engagement of an adj ustable screw 37 carried by an arm 38 projecting from the lever 16 with a pad 39 formed on the inside of the front wall of the pedestal 2.

When the movable ironing elements 6 are held back against the fixed elements 7, the straight rearward walls of the elements 6 lie against the straight forward walls of the elements 7 and, in this position of the elements, the two ironing devices 5 present upwardly extending tapering bodies which are shaped in cross section as shown in Fig. 3, sufficiently small to easily enter the sleeves of a shirt and whose tapering form approximates the tapering form of the shirt sleeves. Each movable element 6 is provided with a part or lug 40 which extends downwardly through an opening in the table 4 and is connected to the rearward end of a spring 41. The forward end of the spring 41 is connected to the bottom of the table 4, and-the spring serves to keep the upper end portion 'of the movable element 6 in close relation to the upper end portion of the fixed element 7, when the ironing device is contracted.

When the ironing elements 6 are inoved forwardly from the fixed elements 7, the elements 6 are free tomove on their pivotal con- 44 to supply steam to the interiors thereof 'nections with the arms 12 to modify the taperingcharacteristics of the ironing devices,

or a purpose hereinafter appearing.

Extending transversely of the machine back of the pedestal 2, and mounted fixedly on the-bracket 23 is a steamsupply pipe 42 having an open threaded end adapted to be for heating the same. Y

Extending parallel to the steam pipe 42 .be-

neath the same and mounted fixedly on the bracket 23 is a discharge or outlet pipe 45 having'a threaded open end adapted to beconnected to a pipe leading to a suitable point of discharge for steam and water or condensation. This pipe 45 is connected by rigid pipes 46 to the two fixed ironing elements 7 to permit steam and water of condensation to flow from the interiors thereof, and it is connected to .the two movable ironing elements 6 by flexible pipes 47 to permit steam and water of condensation to flow from the interiors thereof. q

It will now be understood that the-two elements 6 and 7 of the two ironing devices 5 may be heated by connecting the steam inlet pipe 42 to av suitable valve controlled pipe leading from a source of steam supply, and

by connecting the steam and water outlet pipe '45 to a suitable valve controlled pipe leading to a convenient point of discharge.

The flexible pipes 44 and 47 permit the movable elements 6 of the ironing devices 5 to\move relatively to the fixed elements 7 thereof and relatively, to the machine frame and to the pipes 42- and 45 mounted thereon to which the flexible pipes are connected.

The table 4 hasa pair of arms 48 extendingrearwardly from the central portion thereof. The lower end portion of an angle arm 49 is arranged between and pivoted, at 50, to the arms 48. The 'upper end portion of the arm 49'carries an oblong sheet or member 51 ofsuitable mat'eriah'such as rubberizedcanvas, which isrelativelystiif yet sufficiently yieldable and .resilientto accomplish its purpose hereinafter described. The longitudinal central portion of the sheet or member 51 is secured to the arm 49 between it and a plate 52 which is secured to the arm 51 by means of screws 53. The sheet or member 51 is normally concavo-convex in form' and it provides side or wing portions which extend laterally from the arm .49, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The arm 49 is adapted to move from its normal or raised position, shown in Figs. 1

and 2, down into the space between the two ironing devices 5, as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig.2, for the purpose of engaging and exerting downward pressure upon the upper'portion of the back of a shirt extending between the two ironing devices and thus assist the operative in lowering and smoothing the shirt sleeves upon the devices.

The lower portion of the angle arm 49 is pivoted, at 54, to the upper end of a link which extends downwardly from the plvot 54 and through the bifurcated freeend of the lever16 previously referred to. The lower end portion of the link 55 has alongitudinally extending slot 56 formed therein, and the lever 16 carries a pin 57 which extends through the slot. .The link 55 is provided with a tooth or projection 58 which is adapted to engage the bottom of a flange on the table 4 when the angle arm 49 is raised and moved rearwardly.

Normally, the angle arm 49 rests in the position shown by full lines in Rig. 2; and it isprevented from moving rearwardly and downwardly, from its normal position by the engagement of the tooth or projection 58 with the table 4.

When the lever 16 is moved downwardly by the action of the weight of the two movable elements 6 of the ironing devices 5, as the elements 6 move forwardly from the fixed elements 7 of the ironing devices, the pin 57 engages the bottom of the slot 56 in the link 55 and thereby causes the angle arm 49 to move forwardly and downwardly. The angle arm 49 is also moved forwardly and downwardly'by its own weight and it continues such movement, controlled to some extent by its pin-and-slot connection with the lever 16,

until the member 51 carried by the arm 49 engages and rests upon the back of the'shirt, as previously described.

After the angle arm 49 has been moved forwardly and downwardly during an ironing operation, it is raised and moved rearwardly to its normal position by the pin 57 engaging the upper end of-the slot 56 and raising the link 55, as the lever 16 is raised by the compressed air introduced to the cylinder 20 for retiirning the movable elements 6 of the ironing devices to their normal position, shown by full lines in Fig. 2.

The operation of the machine, briefly: de-

scribed, is as follows:

The parts of the machine restv normally.

in the position shown by full lines in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5. When the partsare in this normal position the operative places the damp sleeves of a shirt upon the ironing devices 5, as previously described, and draws the body of the shirt downwardly until the ironing devices have entered and straightened the shirt sleeves to or near the lines where the cufis are attached to the sleeves, leaving the cuffs extending above the upper ends of the devices and the body of the shirt resting on the table. The operative then places suitable clips 11 on the cuffs near the upper ends of the ironing devices to hold the free ends of the cufl's and the split portions of the bodies of the sleeves adjacent to the cuffs together. This being done, the operative depresses the arm 35 of the foot lever 34: and thereby operates the valve 26 to exhaust the compressed air from the cylinder 20. When the air is exhausted from the cylinder, the movable ironing elements 6 of the devices 5 move forwardly and downwardly by gravity and thus move the lever 16 downwardly and cause its pin 57 to operate the link 55 to move the angle arm 49 forwardly until its center of gravity passes its pivot 50, whereupon it continues its forward and downward movement under the influence of its own weight. As the movable elements 6 move forwardly, the ironing devices 5 are thereby expanded until they entirely fill the sleeves of the shirt between the shirt body and the cuffs on the sleeves. During the expansion of the ironing devices 5, the movable elements 6 thereof automatically adjust themselves on their pivotal connections with the arms 12 to cause the ironing devices to conform tothe taper of and to entirely fill the sleeves being ironed. The expansion of the steam heated ironing devices 5 within" the shirt sleeves smoothes and irons and dries the same. During the expansion of the ironin'g devices 5 the member 51 on the upper end portion of the angle arm 49 engages the upper portion of the back of the shirt and rests upon the same which stops the further downward movement of the member 51, the

pin-and-slot connection between the link 55 and lever 16 permitting the movable elements 6 of the ironing devices 5 and the member 51 to adjust themselves to the parts of the shirt with which they are engaged by their respective gravity. actions independently of each other. As the member 51 comes into engagement with the back of the shirt itassists materially in stretching and adjusting'the sleeves properly upon the ironing devices 5 and in holding them in place thereon during the ironing and drying thereof. After the shirt sleeves have been ironed and dried, the operative depresses the arm 56 of the foot, lever 34 and thereby operates the valve 26 to introduce compressed air to the cylinder 20; and theair pressure within the cylinder raises the piston 24 therein and con-i tracts the ironing devices 5 and restores the angle arm 49 and member 51 to normal posireeaoea tion for a succeeding ironing operation. After the ironing devices have been thus contracted the previously ironed shirt sleeves are removed therefrom. The remaining parts of the shirt may be ironed either before or after the ironing of the sleeves thereof.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, an expansible and contractible ironing device adapted to receive and to be surrounded by a part to be ironed, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, means controlled by the piston for efi'ecting the expansion and contraction of the device and means operable to admit compressed air to and exhaust it from said cylinder.

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, a fixed ironing element, an ironing element movable toward and from the fixed element and constructed to move from the fixed element by gravity a pneumatic cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, means operated by the piston for moving the movable element toward the fixed element when compressed air is admitted to the cylinder and means operable to admit compressed air to and exhaust it from said cylinder.

3. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, an elongated ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame, an elongated ironing element adjacent to and movable toward and from the fixed ironing element, parallel plates projecting fixedly from opposite sides of one of said elements and forming side walls for the path of movement of the other of said elements, a part movably connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the movable element between and remote from the respective ends thereof, said part being constructed to support and guide the movable element and the respective ends of said movable element being movable relatively to said part on the pivotal connection thereof toward and from the fixed element, and means for heating said elements.

4:. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, an elongated ironing element projecting fixedly from'the frame, an elongated ironing element adjacent to and movable toward and from the fixed ironing element, parallel plates projecting fixedly from opposite sides of one of said elements and forming side walls for the path of movement of the other of said elements, an elongated ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an elongated ironing element adjacent to and movable toward and from the fixed ironing element, a part movably connected to the frame and pivotally connected to the movable element between and remote from .the respectwo ends thereof, said part being constructed to support and guide the movable element, the

- tea e044 respective ends of said movable element being movable relatively to said part on the pivotal connection thereof toward and from the fixed element, each of said elements having an exterior ironin surface for contact with a part to be irone and each of said elements being hollow and constructed to receive steam for heating the same.

5. An ironing device comprising two hollow ironing elements adapted to receive and to be surrounded by a part to be ironed, parallel plates projecting fixedly from opposite sides of one of said elements and forming side walls for thepath of movement of the other of said elements, eachof said elements enclosing an independent steam chamber and having an exterior ironing surface for contact with a part to be. ironed, means-for connecting and supporting said elements for movement of one toward and from the other and means including a flexible pipe for supplying steam to said elements.

6. In an ironing machine, the combination of a sup orting frame, two expansible and.

contract1 le ironing devices projecting from the frame'in lateral spaced relationand constructed' to receive and to be surrounded by the sleeves of a shirt, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironing element movable toward and from the fixed element and constructed to move from the fixed element by gravity, a' rockable shaft, arms projecting fixedly from the shaft-and carrying the movable elements of said devices and means operable to rock saidshaft and thereby move the movable elements of the devices toward the fixed elements thereof and thereafter to release the shaft.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by the sleeves of a shirt, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironin element movable toward and from the xed element and constructed to move from the fixed element by avity, arockable' shaft, arms projecting xedlysfrom the shaft and carrying the'movable elements of said devices, said movable elements being pivotally connected to and movable with relation to said .arms and1 means operable to rock said shaft and thereby move the movable elements of the devices toward the fixed elements thereof and thereafter to release the shaft.

I structed to receive and to be surrounded by the sleeves of a shirt, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironin element movabletoward and from the fixe element and constructed to move from the, fixed element by gravity, a rockable shaft, arms projecting fixedl from the shaft and carrying the mova le elements of said devices, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, means operated by the piston for rocking said shaft and thereb moving the movable elements of said devlces toward the fixed elements thereof when compressed air is admitted to said cylinder and means operable to admit compressed air to and exhaust it from said cylmder.

9. In an ironin machine, the combination of a. supporting rame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded. by two parts of a garment, a part movable into and from the space between said devices and constructed to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when said part is moved into said space and means operable to effect at one operation thereof the expansion of said devices and the movement of said part into said space.

10. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contracti le ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, a part movable into and from the space between the devices and adapted to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when the part is moved into said space and means operable to effect at one operation thereof, the expansion of said devices, and the movement of said part into said space, and, at I another operation thereof, the contraction of said devices and the movement of said part from said space.

11. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two ironing devices space and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment and a part having yieldable side portions and movable into and from the space between the devices and adapted to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when the part is moved into said space and means operable to effect the movement of said part into and from said space.

12. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of agarment, a part movable by gravity from a normal position into the space between the devices to engage a portion of said garment extending between them and means to sup-.

(projectlng from the frame in lateral relation and constructed to receive W port said part in said normal position, said tion of a supporting frame, two ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, a part movable by gravity from a nor mal position into-the space between the devices to engage a portion of said garment extending between them, means operable to move said part from said space to said normal position and thereafter operable to release the same. a

it. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation an constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironing element movable toward and from the fixed element and constructed to move from the fixed element by gravity, a part movable by gravity from a normal position into the space between the devices to engage a portion of said garment extending between them and means operable to move said part from said space to said normal position and to move the movable elements of said devices toward the fixed elements thereof and thereafter operable to release the said movable elements and said part.

15. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from. the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, a part movable into and from the space between said devices and constructed to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when said part is moved into said space, a lever, and means operated by the lever, when moved in one direction, to effect the expansion of said devices and the movement of said part into said space, and, when moved in the reverse direction, to effect the contraction of said deyices and the movement of said part from said space.

16. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, a part movable into and from the space between said devices and constructed to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when said part is moved into said space, a lever, means 0 erated by the lever, when moved in one direction, to effect the expansion of said de- Vices and the movement of said part into said space, and, when moved in the reverse direcmean tion, to eflect the contraction of said devices and the movement of said part from said space, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, means controlled by the piston for effecting the said movements of said lever, and means operable to admit compressed air to and exhaust it from said cylin- I der to operate the piston. 7 17. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices proJecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, a part movable into and from the space between said devices and constructed to engage a portion of said garment extending between them when said part is moved into said space, a pneumatic cylinder, a piston within the cylinder, means controlled by the piston for efiecting the expanion and contraction of said devices and for efiecting the movement of said part into and from said space and means operable to admit compressed air to and exhaust it from said cylinder to operate the piston, 18. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible iron devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironing element movable-toward and from the fixed element, two arms connected for simultaneous operation, each movable element being pivotally connected to one of said arms and being wholly supported by such connection and means operable to actuate the arms.

19. In an ironing machine, the combination of a supporting frame, two expansible and contractible ironing devices projecting from the frame in lateral spaced relation and constructed to receive and to be surrounded by two parts of a garment, each device comprising an ironing element projecting fixedly from the frame and an ironing element movable toward and from the fixed element and constructed to move from the fixed element by gravity, two arms connected for simultaneous operation, each movable element being pivotally connected to one of said arms, and being wholly supported by such connection and means operable to actuate the arms to, move the movable elements of the devices 1 toward the fixed elements thereof and there after operable to release the arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOUIS A. BELMONT. 

